Overview of standards/guidelines and current practices for vulnerability assessment of drinking water security in the European Union - ERNCIP Thematic Group Chemical and Biological Risks to Drinking Water Task 2, deliverable 2.1

The assets associated with the production and supply of drinking water are regarded as critical infrastructure that must be protected against a wide range of incidents that could compromise its integrity. Of concern are those incidents that occur infrequently and often with little or no prior warning have the potential to cause major contamination or disrupt the supply of drinking water. Member States have included the security of water supply in their national security plans and conducted vulnerability assets. Organisational responsibility rests with different government departments depending on the country. Several countries reported conducting research at the national level aimed at safeguarding water supply. Several organisations within the European Commission have implemented action at European level and CEN have several working groups concerned with security and water supplies in particular. In addition, a considerable number of research projects have been funded by the Commission. The assessment is of a very fragmented structure for critical infrastructure protection with the European Union. There appears to overlap in responsibility for drinking water security between different organisations. It would be expected to a certain extent because of the wide variety of threats that could potentially compromise the integrity of a water supply system. This review has not covered all Member States so far, but it is intended to act as an active document that will be periodically revised to take account of new developments. The information will be used to support the on-going work of the Thematic Group for Water with development of its programme of work aimed at managing chemical and microbiological risks.

PITCHERS Robert; 

2016-09-15

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC100531

978-92-79-57772-7,   

1831-9424,   

EUR 27853,    OP LB-NA-27853-EN-N,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC100531,   

10.2788/91,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC100531/jrc100531_2016%203418_src_en_overview%20of%20standards-guidelines.pdf